Friday, 19 May 2017

TRANSFER TALK

Spurs have once again been linked with a summer move for centre-back Jeison Murillo. Inter Milan are in a rebuilding process and all the speculation about players leaving relates to them raising money for purchases, thus they want to raise the maximum possible, not offer bargains for unwanted players.

Right-footed 24-year-old (25 later this month) Colombian international (he has 25 caps and 2 goals) Murillo is under contract until 2020 so is at maximum transfer value. he joined Inter from Spanish side Granada on 1 July 2015 for £6.87 million (€8m - AUS$11.98m - US$8.9m).

FC Inter News tell us he failed to maintain the consistency this season he showed last season which isn't very encouraging, consistency is an absolute essential for any defender, they are a liability without it.

The website report that we have followed him for a long time and that we have made tentative inquiries with Inter over availability and a ballpark price.

We have tried to give ourselves right-footed (Alderweireld, Carter-Vickers) and left-footed (Vertonghen, Wimmer) centre-backs. If we are going to play a back three then it is even more important we have cover for Jan Vertonghen, a left-footer, assuming Wimmer leaves us.

A right-footer playing on the left would have to change their whole body shape to play a cross-field ball which telegraphs to the opposition what he is going to do thus allowing them to react quicker and close the receiver down. It wouldn't make sense.

I'm convinced if we bring in a centre-back they will be left-footed, however, much depends upon the future of Eric Dier and whether we see him in a back three or in defensive midfield. Other transfers might determine this transfer and whether we pursue it or not.